Kuju Mountain Range

The Kuju range spans five peaks across 15 kilometers in Oita Prefecture, with Mt. Nakadake reaching 1,791 meters, the highest point on mainland Kyushu. Part of Aso-Kuju National Park since 1934, the range shifts dramatically with the seasons: snow and hoarfrost in winter, pink azalea fields in May, wildflowers drawing butterflies in August, and a full turn of maple and oak color in autumn. Six trails of varying difficulty lead to the summit. Hot spring facilities cluster at the base, fed by the volcanic geology beneath. The area rewards hikers in every season with a different landscape.